★ Hosted by Fr. Jared Cooke
Catholic Pilgrimage · 12 Days · Cruise

Pilgrimage to Greece and Turkey In the Footsteps of St. Paul with Fr. Jared Cooke

Join Fr. Jared Cooke on a pilgrimage to Greece and Turkey. This pilgrimage includes a four day cruise and visits Athens, Mykonos, Santorini and more.

Dates
October 6-17, 2026
Departs Austin
Duration
12 Days
Trip code 26JA10GRJC
From
$4,495
Reserve your spot
The Pilgrimage

Walk in the Footsteps of Faith

Fr. Jared Cooke and a Christian guide will meet your party at the airport and accompany you every step of the way as you explore the footsteps of St. Paul, including stops in Athens, Corinth, Mykonos, Patmos, Santorini, and more!

Fr. Jared Cooke
Your Host

Fr. Jared Cooke

Pastor and Director of Catholic Campus Ministry at Our Lady of Wisdom University Parish

Fr. Jared Cooke is a priest of the Diocese of Austin and pastor and director of Catholic Campus Ministry at Our Lady of Wisdom University Parish at Texas State University. His ministry centers the sacramental life, pastoral care, discipleship, and Catholic formation of university students and the wider parish community. As a pilgrimage chaplain, he brings together Scripture, Church history, prayer, and the celebration of the sacraments to help travelers deepen their relationship with Christ.

View profile
Know Before You Go

What's included

✓ Included

  • ✓Round-trip airfare from Austin to Thessaloniki and Athens to Austin
  • ✓Airport taxes and fuel surcharges
  • ✓First-class hotels for 6 nights
  • ✓Service charges and hotel taxes
  • ✓4-night Greek Island cruise
  • ✓Buffet breakfast daily
  • ✓2 lunches on the land tour
  • ✓Visit to a winery and wine tasting
  • ✓Restaurant dinner in Thessaloniki with wine
  • ✓3 Hotel dinners (standard 3-course menu; beverages may be purchased at an additional cost)
  • ✓Farewell dinner with wine in a local Athenian restaurant
  • ✓Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea on the ship
  • ✓Coffee, tea, and soda with meals on the ship
  • ✓All transfers with a private A/C motor coach as per the itinerary
  • ✓Shore excursion to Ancient Ephesus & the House of the Virgin Mary
  • ✓Shore Excursion to St. John’s Monastery & Grotto of the Apocalypse
  • ✓Outside cabins and Port Taxes
  • ✓Professional English-speaking Christian tour guide throughout
  • ✓Entrance fees are included for sites specifically listed (outside view means no entrance is included)
  • ✓Luggage handling at hotels (one piece per person in/out)
  • ✓Confirmation of daily private Mass
  • ✓Whisper sets
  • ✓For your convenience, a $200.00 tip fund is included in the trip cost.

× Not included

  • ×Personal expenses
  • ×Trip Protection & Medical Insurance (strongly recommended)
  • ×Church donations: $3–$5 per person, per Mass
  • ×Any items not explicitly mentioned in the list of inclusions
  • ×Beverages at meals, unless otherwise noted
  • ×Government-imposed destination charges
  • ×Country-specific Visa fees, unless noted in the inclusions
  • ×Electronic Travel Authorization (ETIAS, ETAUK, ETAIL) applications & fees (if applicable)
  • ×Any airline baggage charges
  • ×Baggage handling at train stations, airports, and hotels in excess of one suitcase per person
  • ×Any charges incurred due to excessive luggage including the cost of an additional baggage vehicle or porterage charges

For your convenience, a $200.00 tip fund is included in the trip cost.

Day by Day

Your pilgrimage, mapped out

Tap any day to explore. Meals: B breakfast · L lunch · D dinner.
Day 1October 6, 2026
DEPART FOR GREECE
+

We depart on an overnight flight from Austin International Airport to Thessaloniki. Dinner and breakfast will be served on the flight. Quotes for optional Premium Economy and Business Class upgrades are available upon request and will be provided starting at 120 days before departure. We work with group airfares (minimum of 10 passengers) that do not allow seat selection. If you wish to reserve specific seats on the flights, we recommend purchasing your own airline tickets and the land-only option with us.

Day 2October 7, 2026
ARRIVE THESSALONIKI
+

We arrive late in Greece’s vibrant second city, named after Alexander the Great’s sister. Our Greek guide helps us settle into the hotel, where dinner awaits us. Overnight in Thessaloniki.

D
Day 3October 8, 2026
PHILIPPI – KAVALA – THESSALONIKI
+

Following breakfast, which is included each morning, we travel to Philippi, where St. Paul first preached on European soil (Acts 16). We celebrate Mass at the riverside site of Lydia’s baptism, then explore the ruins of Philippi, including the forum and prison of Paul and Silas. Follow the path of St. Paul, Silas, and Timothy to the ancient port of Kavala (Neapolis). We enjoy dinner in a local restaurant in Thessaloniki. (B. Special dinner)

BD
Day 4October 9, 2026
THESSALONIKI – WINE TASTING IN NAOUSSA
+

Celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and enjoy a tour of Thessaloniki’s ancient ramparts, the St. George Church, and the Galerius Arch. Later, travel to Naoussa, a region famed for its red wine, for a tasting at the Kir Yiannis Winery before continuing to Kalambaka for dinner and an overnight.

BLD
Day 5October 10, 2026
METEORA MONASTERIES
+

Marvel at the “monasteries in the sky”, Byzantine structures perched atop dramatic gray rock cliffs since the 14th century. Visit a traditional icon-making workshop to see how these sacred works of art are created. Mass will be celebrated at the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka.

BD
Day 6October 11, 2026
ATHENS
+

We drive to Athens, stopping en route for a break and lunch. In the afternoon, we celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Dionysius. Check into the hotel and enjoy our evening at leisure in the Plaka, the city’s historic old town, where we can sample local Greek delicacies in a charming neighborhood setting. Overnight in Athens.

BL
Day 7October 12, 2026
ATHENS – START 4-DAY AEGEAN CRUISE: MYKONOS
+

We check out of our hotel, celebrate Mass at St. John’s Church, and drive to the Port to board our 4-day cruise aboard the Celestyal Discovery. Our first stop is Mykonos, the “Venice of the Aegean.” Wander through its iconic whitewashed streets, chic boutiques, and the beautiful harbor of Alefkandra. We return to the cruise ship for dinner and overnight.

BLD
Day 8October 13, 2026
CRUISE: KUSADASI – EPHESUS (MARY’S HOUSE) – PATMOS
+

After breakfast on board, the ship arrives at the lively Turkish port of Kusadasi. We transfer to the small village of Mt. Koressos, where we celebrate Mass and visit the small stone chapel on the site of Mary’s House, where the Virgin Mary lived out her last days. Explore on foot the ruins of ancient Ephesus, where we see the Great Theater, with a capacity of 25,000 people, and where Saint Paul preached. On the return of our walking tour, we follow the exact route that Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession. We see the Basilica of Saint John, built over the grave of St. John the Evangelist. Upon our return to the port of Kusadasi, we make a stop at the carpet-making factory, as mandated by the cruise line. Please do not feel compelled to buy any rugs unless you absolutely love them. We return to the ship for lunch and sail to the Holy Island of Patmos. On the island, we visit the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and the Monastery and Grotto of the Apocalypse, where the Book of Revelation was written. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight.

BLD
Day 9October 14, 2026
CRUISE: RHODES – THE ISLAND OF KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN
+

The Island of Rhodes is a mix of Roman and Byzantine architectural styles. Rhodes was one of the most important seafaring and trading centers in the Eastern Mediterranean during ancient times. Conquered in 1309 by the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, it is now under UNE- SCO protection. Our guide will show us the city, including the Master’s Palace, after we celebrate Mass at Santa Maria Catholic Church. The rest of the day is at leisure in Rhodes to explore the city on our own. We can return to the ship for our included lunch and relax, or enjoy lunch on our own in town.

BLD
Day 10October 15, 2026
CRUISE: CRETE (HERAKLION) – SANTORINI
+

This morning we are in Crete. An optional shore excursion can be purchased on the ship, which includes a visit to Heraklion with its ancient ruins of the Palace of Knossos. Or instead, follow our guide into the town to explore the market and the lively Greek life at leisure. Return to the ship for lunch and sail to the idyllic island of Santorini, widely regarded as the most breathtaking of all the Greek Islands. We disembark via tender and take the cable car to visit Thira with its iconic white-washed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes and glittering boutiques that cling to steep cliffs. We celebrate Mass at St. John Catholic Church before returning to the ship for our last dinner and overnight on the cruise.

BLD
Day 11October 16, 2026
CORINTH – ATHENS
+

After disembarkation, we visit the ancient city of Corinth. Under the shadow of the towering Acropolis, Saint Paul lived in Corinth for two years. While here, Saint Paul felt great grief over how the Gentile Church in Corinth had become. As a result, he was prompted to write four letters, all with the overarching theme of love. In Corinth, we see the remains of the first-century shops, the site of Saint Paul’s trial by Gallio, the Fountain of Peirene, and the Temple of Apollo. We celebrate Mass at the Steps of St. Paul in Ancient Corinth. Return to Athens for a city tour including a visit to the Acropolis and Mars Hill, where Saint Paul spoke to the Athenians about the one and only God (Acts 17:22). Tonight, we enjoy a festive farewell dinner with great food and wine. (B.Special dinner)

BD
Day 12October 17, 2026
FAREWELL TO GREECE – BACK IN THE USA
+

Today marks the end of our pilgrimage. We say farewell to a country that will last in our memory forever. We are transferred to the Athens airport for our return flight home to Austin.

B
Pricing

Choose how you travel

Most popular
Base Price
$4,495per person

Base Price. Main trip package.

Base Price and Group Airfare
$5,595per person

Base Price and Group Airfare. Main trip package.

Solo Room (Additional Charge)
$1,295additional

Solo Room (Additional Charge). Additional supplement.

Reserve your spot
ETA Required
Confirm requirements with Select for this destination.
Deposit
A deposit of $1000.00 per person should accompany your registration by July 1, 2026.
Final Payment
Final payment is due by July 8, 2026.
Passport Validity
Your passport must be valid through April 17, 2026.
Pilgrimage Information

Everything else for this trip

🛡️

Travel Protection

Protect your investment against cancellation, illness and disruption.

Learn more →
📄

Terms & Conditions

Deposit, payment, cancellation and responsibility terms for this trip.

Learn more →
🛂

Visas & Entry

Passport, visa and destination entry requirements.

Learn more →
🧭

Know Before You Go

Packing, weather, electrical and on-the-ground practicalities.

Learn more →
💡

Two-Minute Travel Tips

Short, practical videos to help you make the most of your pilgrimage.

Learn more →
❓

FAQ

Registration, payments, lodging, walking, mobility and more.

Learn more →

Ready to Begin Your Pilgrimage?

Review the trip details and registration information, then reserve your place.

Enroll Today